Portable well servicing rig



T. R. MUNSINGER PORTABLE WELL SERVICING RIG Sept. 30, 1952 Filed Nov. 29, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l .]NVENTOR.

ATTDRNEY Sept. 30, 1952 T. R. MUNSINGER PORTABLE WELL SERVICING RIG Filed Nov. 29, 1948- 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /a I 3 I I; INVENTOR.

77/50002 E Mu/vsmaya Sept, 30, 1952 T. R. MUNSINGER PORTABLE WELL SERVICING RIG 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 29, 1948 i F. m m I n INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 30, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT -OFFICE 2,612,242 PORTABLE WELL srnvromc RIG Theodor R. Munsinger, Meeker, Colo. 7 Application November 2c, 1948, Serial No. 62,527

exceedingly sturdy derrick structure which can be telescoped to a sufficiently short length for transportation "on a road trailer.

A still further object is to provide a trailer-like vehicle of a type which can be backed over an oil well without disturbingthe pipes valves, and pumping equipment thereon.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of thelinvention, which. is designed for simplicity, economy, and. efficiency.

These will become more apparent from the following description. I

' 6 Claims. (c1. 189-15) In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms apart hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawings: v

Fig. 1 is a side view of'the improved 'oil well servicing vehicle in position for' transportation;

Fig. 2 illustrates the derrick portion of the l I rig in the erected position;

Fig. 3 illustrates the derrick portion in the collapsed position; I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, detail section, taken on the line 4-4, Fig.2;

Fig. 5 is a similarly enlarged, detail section. taken on'the line '5-5, Fig.2;

Fig. 6 .is a horizontal cross section, taken on the line fi-S, Fig. 2, looking upward; i

Fig. '7 is a plan view of the improved oil well servicing rig in the transport position; and

8 is a rear end view thereof; I

The invention comprises a trailer-like vehicle chassis -iil supported upon rear wheels 1! and tubular corner posts l3 rigidly maintained in parallel, rectangular relation by means of lateral bracing M and diagonal bracing I5, is supported on the chassis ill. The posts l3 are interconnected at the bottom by means of a bottom' frame 37. The rearmost extremity of the lower 1 derrick section is supported'on rollers 46 ar-' pressure is applied to the cylinders 24.

ranged..to travel onhorizontal track members I? positioned at each side and at the rear of the chassis it. The forward extremity of the lower derrick member issupported on rollers i3 resting on track members 19 which curve forwardly and upwardly at each side of, and at the forward extremity of, the chassis If), so as to extend over the gooseneck 12. When the derrick is in the position of Fig. l, the rollers it rest in roller sockets 46 at the rear of the track members I].

The derrick section is arranged to be moved forwardly on the chassis [0 by means of a first pair of double-acting hydraulic cylinders 20,

there being one cylinder hingedly mounted at each sideof the derrick member upon hinge studs ill on the chassis Ill.

The cylinders 29 are arranged to project plungers 2| forwardly. The plungers are connected to pivot studs 22 projecting outwardly from each side of the derrick member.

It can be readily seen that as pressure is applied to the cylinders 20, the lower derrick section will be forced forwardly on the chassis Ill, the rollers 16 traveling on the track members if, and the rollers I8 traveling forwardlyand upwardly on the track members l9 to elevate'the forward extremity of the derrick section. As the rollers lit approach the forward ends of the tracks l'l they drop into receivingv sockets 23 in the tracks ll.

A second pair of doubleacting hydraulic cylinders 2d are mounted on pivot studs 25 at the forward portion of the chassis l0, there being one cylinder at each side of the chassis. Hydraulic plungers 26 extend rearwardly from the cylinders 24 to the pivot studs 22.

As the plungers 2| move forwardly they force the plungers 26 into the cylinders 25. When the extreme forward movement has been reached, pressure is maintained in the cylinders 26 and This causes the plungers 25 to act upwardly against the pivot studs 22 with a toggle-like action which will lift the forward extremity of the lower derrick section to the vertical position shown by the broken lines in Fig. 1. v '1' Supporting lugs 2'! project oppositely outward from the bottom frame 41 oppositethe rollers It so that when the vertical position is reached these lugs 21 will rest in the roller sockets 46 of the track I! to support the derrick in a vertical position. The lifting action of the hydraulic cylinders 2:3 is assisted by the fact thatthe forward extremity of the derrick section will be initially partially elevated, due to the upward travel of the rollers I8 along the inclined tracks [9.

The height of the erected derrick may be increased by expanding additional sections. As illustrated, the complete derrick has two additional sections, a middle section, consisting of four tubular, rectangularly-arranged corner posts 28, and an upper section, consisting of smaller, similarly arranged tubular corner posts 29. The posts 28 are slidable within the posts l3 and the posts 29 are slidable within the posts 28.

The four posts of each derrick section are rigidly connected together at their tops by means of an I-beam frame 39. The I-beams 39of the top section carry bearingsfor any desired head pulleys 40 for receiving hoisting cables.

The sliding joints between the posts are similar and are constructed as shown in Fig 4. A bushing 30 is threaded or otherwise secured in the bottom of the upper post to receive a flexible cup washer 3! which is secured against the bushing 30 by means of. a washer plate 32 and suitable cap screws 33. A central fluid passage 34 extends through the bushing 39, the washer 3| and the plate 32. The upper extremities of the posts 29, and the lower extremities of the posts I3 are closed. Hydraulic hoses 35 are connected to the bottoms of the posts I 3.

It can be seen that if fluid under pressure is introduced through the hoses 35, it will cause the two upper sets of posts 28 and 29 to be forced upwardly so as to vertically extend the three sections of the derrick.

The sets of posts 28 and 29 are maintained in rigid, vertical, parallel alignment by means of rectangular'brace frames 38, preferably formed of channel iron, and provided with openings at the corners through which the posts 28 and 29 may slide. The brace frames 36 are connected with each other in vertical sequence by means of flexible, diagonally positioned cables 31 which extend between-suitable attachment ears 38 on the brace frames and which resist slide sway of the posts.

It can be readily seen that as the posts 28 and 29 move upwardly, the brace frames 36 will be successively raised by means of the cables, 31 until the derrick reaches the fully extended position of Fig. 2 at which time all cables will be fully stressed under the action of the hydraulic fluid.

After the posts 28 and 29 have reached their fully extended position, they are latched in place by means of hydraulically operated latch bolts 4! actuated from double acting hydraulic cylinders 42 mounted on the I-beams 39. The bolts 4| are projected through openings in the outer and inner telescoping posts at each sliding joint and through latch tubes 43 extending across and sealin the inner telescoping members.

It will be noted that the rear extremity of the chassis I is open as shown in Fig. '7 and the lower panel of the lower derrick section is open to enable the chassis ID to be backed over the projecting works of an oil'well, such as indicated at 44 without disturbing the latter. After the chassis is in place fluid is pumped into the cylinders 28 until the lower derrick section has been forced to its full forward position. Fluid is then turned into the cylinders 24 until the derrick reaches its vertical position. Fluid is then turned into the cylinders 42 to force the locking latch bolts 4| into locking position, and the derrick is ready for use.

When the servicing operations have been completed the posts are filled with fluid and fluid is pumped into the forward extremities of the latch cylinders 42 to cause them to withdraw the latch bolts 4|. The fluid is then allowed to flow from the derrick posts allowing them to descend by gravity. As the posts descend the brace frames sucessively pile upon ach other as the tension in the cables is released. When the derrick has been fully collapsed, fluid is admitted to the cylinders 20 while fluid is discharged from the lower extremities of the cylinders 24. This causes the collapsed derrick to tilt forwardly until the rollers l8 engage the track members l9. Fluid is then admitted to the forward extremities of the cylinders 24 to force the entire derrick rearwardly to the traveling position of Fig. 1.

The fluid is conducted to the hydraulic cylinders 42 through suitable flexible conduits 48 and to the cylinders 24 through similar conduits 49. These conduits convey fluid under pressure through suitablecontrol valves (not shown) from any convenient source of pressure such as from a pump upon the towing vehicle 45.

It is preferred to mount hydraulic jacks 52 on the rear extremities of the chassis l 8 which support the chassis upon jack plungers 53 from the rear wheels II. This allows the chassis to be lowered upon the ground or other supporting structure. The forward portion can be raised and lowered from the tow car by means of suitable jacks so that when in use for servicing purposes the wheels are relieved of all Weight and the chassis itself will serve as a work platform frame.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An oil Well servicing rig comprising: a portable vehicle; a derrick member lying in a substantially horizontalposition on said vehicle with its base portion adjacent the rear of said vehicle; the rear portion of said vehicle being open to the back thereof so that it and the base portion of said derrick member may span an oil well; a horizontal track member positioned at each side of the open rear portion of said vehicle; a lower roller at each side of the base portion of said derrick member, said lower rollers travelling on said horizontal track members; upwardly extending inclined track members at the forward extremity of said vehicle; upper rollers at the upper extremity of said derrick member engaging said upwardly extending track members; hydraulic means connected between said derrick means and said vehicle and positioned to force said derrick member forwardly on said track members so that the forward extremity thereof will travel upwardly on said upwardly extending track members; and a second hydraulic means, connected between said derrick member and said vehicle and positioned to elevate said derrick member to a vertical position.

2. An oil Well servicing rig comprising: a vehicle having two sets of spaced apart rear wheels; a side. chassis member extending forwardly from, and supported by, each set of rear wheels; a chassis frame connecting said sid chassis members together forwardly of said rear wheels;

means for supporting the forward extremity of said chassis frame; a track member extending along each of said side chassis members; a

derrick section; rollers mounted on said derrick section to travel along said tracks; a first set of hydraulic jack members extending from said side chassis members forwardly to a pivotal connection with said derrick section for moving the latter forwardly along said track members; a second set of hydraulic jack members mounted forwardly on said chassis members and extending rearwardly and upwardly to the pivotal connection of the first hydraulic jack member on said derrick section so as to exert a togglelike action against the first set of hydraulic members to elevate said derrick section to a vertical position on said track members.

3. An oil well servicing rig comprising: a vehicle having two sets of spaced apart rear wheels; a side chassis member extending forwardly from, and supported by, each set of rear wheels; a chassis frame connecting said side chassis members together forwardly of said rear wheels; means for supporting the forward extremity of said chassis frame; a track member extending along each of said side chassis members; a derrick section; rollers mounted on one side of the said derrick section to travel along said tracks; means for moving said derrick section longitudinally and vertically on said track members; said track members having receiving depressions adjacent their forward extremities for receiving said rollers; and supporting projections on the other side of said derrick member positioned opposite to said rollers for supporting the latter in a vertical position, there being receiving portions on said track members for receiving said projections when said derrick is in a vertical position.

4. A portable well derrick comprising: a vehicle; a pair of spaced-apart track members mounted on said vehicle, each of said track members having an indented receiving socket adjacent its one extremity, said sockets being in alignment with each other; a derrick section with its base positioned between said track members; rollers rotatably mounted on, and projecting oppositely outward and in transverse alignment from said base adjacent one side thereof and arranged to travel on said track members into and out of said sockets; projections projecting oppositely outward from said base adjacent the other side of said base so as to rest upon said track members when said rollers are in said sockets to support said derrick section vertically on said track members; means for moving said rollers longitudinally of said track members and into said sockets; and a second to force said rollers toward and into said sockets;

and a second pair of hydraulic jack members mounted on said vehicle and extending at an upward angle to a mounting on said pivot members in opposed relation to said first hydraulic jack members so as to exert a toggle-like action against the thrust of the first cylinders to swing said derrick section upwardly about the axis of said rollers.

6. A portable well derrick as described in claim 5 having upwardly curved track members on said vehicle adjacent the position occupied by the upper portion of said derrick section whenthe latter is in a horizontal position; and a second set of transversally aligned rollers mounted on said derrick section and riding on said curved track members so that as said derrick section moves longitudinally under the influence of said first hydraulic jack members, said second setof rollers will travel up said curved track sections to impart an initial upward swing to said derrick section.

THEODOR R. MUNSINGER,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 470,112 Ehrentraut Mar. 1, 1892 725,964 Hogeland Apr. 21, 1903 2,204,716 Woody June 18, 1940 2,210,407 Henry Aug. 6, 1940 2,335,584 Couse Nov. 30, 1943 2,344,390 Cohen Mar. 14, 1944 2,354,922 McEwen et a1. Aug. 1, 1944 2,470,998 McPherson May 24, 1949 

